Dental apparatus



Nov. 24, 1964 E. L. UTLEY 3,158,148

DENTAL APPARATUS Filed Oct. l1, 1963 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent() 3,158,143 DENTAL APPARATUS Enel Lee Utley, 1762 W. Santa BarbaraAve., Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Get. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 315,553 S Claims. (Si. 126-226) This invention relates to a dental apparatus and more particularly to a means for maintaining a quantity of dental wax in a warm and molten condition, in its preferred form being used in cooperation with a stand member carrying holder means for supporting a rod-like dental tool with portions of the tool extending in contacting or overlying relationship to the means for heating the wax.

As conducive to a better understanding of the instant invention it should be understood that it is conventional in dental laboratories to maintain a quantity of dental Wax in a warm or molten condition for use in a Variety of processes. It is important that the Wax be precluded from solidifying, but it must not be overheated.

In cooperation with the use of the dental wax, the technician frequently employs a variety of tool means such as spatulas, irons, or the like, and the use of these tool means is facilitated if the working portion of the same are heated to assist in melting and molding the wax with which they come in contact. All such tools are included in the claim-term rod-like.

It is therefore a primary object of the instant invention to provide a dental apparatus for maintaining a quantity of dental wax in a Warm and molten condition, the apparatus being sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eillcient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, utilize, vand maintain, and being particularly adapted for use in cooperation with a means for heating a portion of a dental tool.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device of the character described particularly designed for use with a conventional laboratory Bunsen burner.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision f `such a device wherein the wax warmer may be adjustably secured to the gas tube of a conventional Bunsen burner to vary the amount of heat transferred to the Wax.

Other and further objects reside in the combination of elements, arrangement of parts, and features of construction.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and as shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of a dental apparatus in accordance with the instant inventive concept, certain hidden parts being shown in dotted lines, and a portion of a rod-like tool means being shown schematically in dotted lines;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 of FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross-sectional View taken substantially on line 4 4 of FIGURE l showing a portion of the stand member with the Bunsen burner removed.

Similar reference character refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing, a dental apparatus in accordance with the instant invention is designated generally by the reference numeral and is designed particularly for use in conjunction with a conventional laboratory Bunsen burner 12 having a base portion 1d and a vertically extending gas tube 16 which is hollow and has a lower end 18 secured to the base portion 1d and anopen upper end 2i) from which emanates a jet or" gas to be ignited in a well-known manner. The lower end 18 of the ICS gas tube 16 includes means deiining a gas inlet 22 to be attached to a exible conduit (not shown) connected to a source of gas in a conventional manner. Draft apertures 24 for combustion air are also defined adjacent the lower end 18 of the gas tube 16. i

The dental apparatus 10 is comprised basically of a wax warmer means designated generally as 26 and a stand member 28 supporting on rod 56 a tool holder means Sil.

The wax warmer means 26 includes a container means 32 for receiving a quantity of wax, the container means 32 being annular in form and being deiined by a substantially horizontally extending bottom portion 34, an upstanding peripheral side wall portion 36 terminating in a horizontal plane, and a vertically extending central sleeve portion 38 having a vertically extending central bore 4:0 delined therethrough dimensioned to receive in sliding relationship the gas tube 16 of the Bunsen burner 12. The central sleeve portion 38 is larger in internal diameter than gas tube 16 and includes a rst portion extending from above 36 to the level of the bottom 34 and a second attaching portion 4t2 depending below the bottom portion 34 of the container means 32, and having a transversely extending threaded aperture 44 defined therethrough for receiving a threaded portion 46 of an attaching means defined by an adjusting screw 48 having a knurled head portion Sil. The threaded portion 46 of the adjusting screw 48 is dimensioned to extend within the central bore 40 into securing engagement with the gas tube 16 of the Bunsen burner 12. Vertically extending, circumferentially spaced, thin aligning rib members 52 are secured internally of the attaching portion 42 of the central sleeve 38 to facilitate attachment to the gas tube 16 and to space the container means 32 therefrom but to allow air to flow upwardly therebetween.

The stand member 28 has portions 54 in its horizontal plate-like base deiining a recess dimensioned to receive the base portion 14 of the Bunsen burner 12 and includes a rod member 56 horizontally spaced from 54 and threadably secured at 58 and extending above the upper end 2@ of the Bunsen burner 12.

The tool holder means 30 has a vertically extending bore 60 defined therethrough dimensioned to slidingly receive the rod member 56 and includes a threaded aperture 62 for receiving the threaded portion 64 of a locking means in the form of a screw member having a knurled head 66, the threaded portion 64 being of a dimension to extend within the vertically Aextending bore 6@ into securing engagement with the rod member 56. A substantially horizontally extending open ended trough 6% is defined in the upper surface of the holder means 36 to receive a portion of a dental tool such as a spatula, iron, or the like 70 in resting relationship. The trough is rotatable in a horizontal plane, for a full circle, and is dimensioned of a length to present, in all positions, a side clearance with respect to the container.

An annular band 39 is iixed near the top of gas tube 16 and vertically spaced above the illustrated (FIGURES 1 and 2) position of sleeve 38. The band is of such diameter as to malte a sliding iit within the central opening of the sleeve. The height of the band is equal to a major portion of the height of the iirst or upper portion of the sleeve. Raising the container 32 (above the positions of FIGURES 1 and 2) so that 32 and 40 overlap, closes the gas channel between the gas tube and the container and provides a conductive heat tloW path from the gas tube to the container.

The use and operation of the dental apparatus o the instant invention will now be apparent. The wax warmer means 26 is slid over the upper end Ztl of the Bunsen burner 12 and positioned at a point intermediate the upper and lower ends 20 and 13, respectively, of the gas tube 16, being secured in place by the attaching means 48. Annular band 39 is then fitted tightly on the top of gas tube ld Patented Nov. 2d, lgll 'y 16. A'quantity of wax (not shown) placed in the annular recess of container means 32 will be warmed and maintained in a molten condition by heat convection across the annulus between tube and sleeve by heat conduction through ribs 52, the amount-of heat provided increasing 'as the container means approaches lthe :upper end 20 thereof. vGreater heat conduction is provided -by overlapping band 39 and sleeve 38.

The base portion 14 ofthe Bunsen burner 112 is received -in the recess '54 to increase Ythe stability of the assembly and to facilitate movement thereof as necessary. A rodlike tool means 70 maybe rested in a trough 68 of the holding means 30 Iwith Vits tip or any otherdes'iredlportiou extending in overlying relationship `to Vthe :flame (not shown) emanating from the lupper-end 20 Aofvthe Bunsen burner l2, Athe holder means 30 fbeing rotated and slid lon the rod member l56 luntil the tool Ameans `l70 is positioned as desired.

As there is a horizontal or side clearance between the ends of the tool holder trough edandtheside wall 360i the container, the holder means may be changed-from (l) a position in which -the trough bottom is coplanar witht-he top -of sidewall 36 to(2) aposition in which thetrough bottom is directed towards any portion of the arneor even above the llame. -In each above position 4the Itrough and rod are rotatable in ahorizontalplane for a u'llcircle of 360. Thus the ltool may beiiept'within a Wlide range of temperature.

lOne particularly desirable tool temperature would be near that of -the wax in the container. Thisis obtained with applicantfs structure by selecting `position `(l) above ythe ytool end, each vflow approximatinga-range of temperature near that of the container.

t-will now be seen thatthere is t'hereinprovided antimproved dental apparatus rwhich-satisfies -all the objectives of the instant invention and others, including .manyadvantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments `may be made ofthe :instant inventive concept, and since many :modifications may Vbe made of the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is tofbe understood that all matterherein is to be interpretedmerely as illustrative, and not 'in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A dental apparatus including alBunsen burner lhaving a base portion and a yvertically extending gas ltube with a lower end secured to the base portion and-'including means defining agas inlet, an adjustablefairinlet, and an open upper end,

also an open top container means for `receiving and keeping warm a quantity of wax, said container including an upstanding peripheral outer wall, a vertical central sleeve vwith a-central opening thereinof greater internal diameter than -the outerdiameter of said gas tube, and a substantiallyilat bottom'between said wall and said sleeve,

said sleeve possessing a rst portion extending 'from above the height of said outer wall to said bottom and spaced from the gas tube, and a secondgportion lin contact with said tube and extending 'from said bottom towards but stopping short of said air inlet, a plurality of thin circumferentially spaced apart rib means integral -With said secondportion of .saidsleeve and extending towards and making a-sliding lit with the adjacent gas tube,

and threaded means circumferentially spaced from each of said rib means and passing horizontally through said sleeve and'variably contacting said gas tube to attach said container at desired heights thereon.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in addition thereto,

an annular band fixed nearthe top Aof said gas tube and above the rstport'ion .of said sleeve, and of a diameter which is slightly less than that of the central opening of the central sleeve,

the height of said band .being equal to a major portion of the height of said first portion of said sleeve,

whereby upon raising the container into overlapping and ksliding relationship with said band, fluid flow be- Vtvveenigas tube and sleeve is vstopped and-the conductive heat .transfer from tube to container .is increased.

3. A dental apparatus including a tBunsen Aburner Ahavinga circular 4base .portionwith a vertically extending gas tube, means to admit Agas to the tube fbase and means ,to adjustably admit combustion air=to said `tube,

a fhorizontalaplate standmember with a circular recess atene end, lsaid recess .positioning and :receiving ,the tbase portion of said 'Bunsen fburner, and a-xed vertically extending rod member horizontally spaced from said recess,

around open top container with a .peripheral side wall terminating at its top in a horizontal plane, `a deep annular recess therewithin, said container being adtjustably fixed atdesired heights along the upper portion of saidgas tube,

vtool holder means having a .top surface including .an open ended horizontal trough .dimensioned-to receive a rod-like dental tool, a vertically extending bore di- .mensioned to slidingly receive said rodmember, and a Abore .intersecting threaded aperture carrying a threaded `locking means,

whereby said rod-like dental tool may rest in various horizontal lpositionsalong said trough, and the-'trough may be orientedhorizontally throughout a1full circle,

the longitudinal dimension of the troughedtool :holder .beingof ailengthtopresent a side clearance zbetween the ends ofthe .trough .and aperipheral side wallzof theopen top container,

whereby .when Athe ihottom of the-trough isatlthe same height as 'thetop of saidperipl'ieral side wallgof said container, the Vtool end .may simultaneously .contact said :side iwall ytop at a vplurality of points lto-thereby assume approximately the same -ternperatureas the container,

and whereby when said holder is elevated above the top of the gastube, Vsaid toolend may be ,positioned at desired `locations Within or adjacent the vllame 'from the gas tube :to thereby assume lhigher'ternperatures than said container.

References Cited hy the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 697,326 V4/02 Claude .263-9 1,180,735 4/16 Murray 126--229 1,487,377 '3i/2.4il Gaynor 126-229 1,536,079 5/25 vDalton 263--5 1,569,903 l/ 26 Wilton 15S-.1.11 X 1,606,400 ll/26 Cheney 2 3--259 1,726,345 8 /29 .Donaldson vl26--226 X 1,974,075 9/ 34 Lieboi 23-292 X .2,185,838 l/40 Duerr 24S-il24X 2,499,945 3/50 Burrell 2 4 8-124 JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DENTAL APPARATUS INCLUDING A BUNSEN BURNER HAVING A BASE PORTION AND A VERTICALLY EXTENDING GAS TUBE WITH A LOWER END SECURED TO THE BASE PORTION AND INCLUDING MEANS DEFINING A GAS INLET, AN ADJUSTABLE AIR INLET, AND AN OPEN UPPER END, ALSO AN OPEN TOP CONTAINER MEANS FOR RECEIVING AND KEEPING WARM A QUANTITY OF WAX, SAID CONTAINER INCLUDING AN UPSTANDING PERIPHERAL OUTER WALL, A VERTICAL CENTRAL SLEEVE WITH A CENTRAL OPENING THEREIN OF GREATER INTERNAL DIAMETER THAN THE OUTER DIAMETER OF SAID GAS TUBE, AND A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BOTTOM BETWEEN SAID WALL AND SAID SLEEVE, SAID SLEEVE POSSESSING A FIRST PORTION EXTENDING FROM 